CHESHIRE chief fire officer Steve McGuirk has reassured the public and his staff that there are no proposals to 'fundamentally reduce fire cover' as a result of the Government's modernisation agenda.

Concerns have been expressed that the community will get a diminished service.

Mr McGuirk has addressed some of the worries with regard to the publication of a White Paper on modernisation of the fire service by the office of John Prescott.

He said: 'We currently have no proposals to fundamentally change or reduce fire cover in Cheshire to different levels for different periods of day or night.'

Cheshire Fire Service is conducting in-depth research, called Integrated Risk Management Planning (IRMP), to be completed by the end of September.

It is the start of a new way of looking at community safety using risk information and data relating to incidents the Fire Service has responded to in the past.

Mr McGuirk added: 'In Cheshire, we have a strong track record of change and adaptation to build on. I see no reason for 'knee-jerk' reactions.

'There are areas where we believe we can improve our performance and service delivery by using new technology, different vehicles, and different ways of doing things, but the overriding factor will be evidence and risk-based decision-making against clear performance standards.'

Mr McGuirk added: 'Do not interpret this to mean we will always stay as we are.

'It is far too early to make these statements, and we know there are things we can do to modernise in the short-term, but it does mean we have no intention to 'worsen' response times, and indeed, would actually wish to improve.'